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 Community Newsletter
October 2023
Happy Fall Neighbors!
I hope you are all enjoying the drop in temperatures and finding some time to enjoy the outdoors. In this month's newsletter you will find several event opportunities all around the city for the entire family to enjoy. I've also provided information about great opportunities for small business owners who can earn college credit and for Mesa students who can utilize their filming skills to join a public service announcement contest.
Additionally, I would like to share an update with you that City Council recently discussed on a couple of very important topics. Please take some time to review the presentations given by staff regarding Mesa's water portfolio and the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project. You can also watch the presentations by visiting Mesa 11 Live.
If you ever have any questions, want to share about issues that are important to you, or if I can be of assistance, please reach out to me at district4@mesaaz.gov or 480-644-3004. My door is always open.
-Councilmember Jenn Duff
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Eligible Mesa small business owners now can earn college credits for nearly free through the Mesa Business Builder (MBB) Educates U Program. The City of Mesa Office of Economic Development partnered with Mesa Community College (MCC) to provide qualified participants access to 17 programs of study to help level up business skills and increase competitiveness. Courses include accounting, Adobe animation and graphics, entrepreneurship, general business, marketing, retail sales management, small business management, and social media.
Before enrolling in the available certificate programs, business owners must first apply and be approved for the MBB Small Business Assistance Program. To be eligible businesses must be for-profit, physically located in Mesa, and have a valid Mesa General Business License.
Interested business owners are encouraged to apply now on Mesa HUUB, the City's online business support resources portal: myhuub.com/mesa.
MBB Educates U covers the tuition and course fees for 17 select business certificate programs. Eligible participants may enroll in up to two classes per semester for up to two people per business. Enrolled participants are responsible for MCC's $15 registration fee, books, and other class materials.
In addition, MCC provides a Navigator to help business owners in the MBB Small Business Assistance Program register for classes. The spring class schedule is currently available. Registration begins Monday, October 9, with classes beginning January 13, 2024.
For more information or assistance, contact MesaBusinessBuilder@mesaaz.gov.
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Did you know children who can’t read at their grade level by 4th grade are four times more likely to not graduate from high school? AARP Experience Corps is coming to Mesa in January 2024, and we need your help to make a difference in lives of Mesa students. Experience Corps provides a meaningful volunteer experience for adults over 50 by training them to be reading tutors for elementary students in Mesa Public Schools. By volunteering just a few hours a week, volunteers have a life-long impact on the students they tutor. No experience or special skills necessary. Take the first step by signing up for an information session today—spots are limited, so sign up early!
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Let's strengthen our communities by forging meaningful connections! Join us in celebrating the 25th Anniversary of G.A.I.N. (Getting Arizona Involved In Neighborhoods) in the City of Mesa on November 4! Register your G.A.I.N. party today and receive exclusive perks, like a $50 Walmart gift card, a commemorative t-shirt, and more. By letting us know about your event, we can make every effort to stop by. Don't miss out! Register your event before the deadline and join us in bringing back a sense of community in our neighborhoods.
I look forward to visiting your G.A.I.N. party and getting to know more of our community members in District 4!
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Lights, Camera, Safety! The Move Safe Public Service Announcement Contest returns for a second year. Youth ages 12-18 are invited to create a 30-second public service announcement featuring a safety tip for walking or riding. The competition is aimed at encouraging everyone to be safe when using non-motorized modes of transportation.
Last year's partners Harkins Theatres, Phoenix Film Festival Foundation, and ASU Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center are back and joined by new partners Cox Communications and Mesa Film Festival. Prizes will be awarded to the creators of the winning PSA videos. The winning public service announcement (PSA) will be shown in select Harkins Theatres during April and May 2024 and will run on the Cox channel lineup courtesy of Cox Communications.
The Grand Prize winner will also receive feedback from an ASU instructor and a private tour of ASU MIX Center, a prize package from Phoenix Film Festival and Mesa Film Festival and a bicycle from the City of Mesa's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. In addition, the two runners-up will each receive a prize package from Harkins Theatres, free submission to the 2024 Arizona Student Film Festival and a gift bag from the City of Mesa's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program.
Interested in submitting an entry? The deadline to submit is January 31, 2024. Judging will take place in February 2024 and the winners will be announced in time to celebrate Arizona's Valley Bike Month in April.
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Mesa Arts Center is pleased to celebrate Día de los Muertos with an annual event created in collaboration with the community. Día de los Muertos is a celebration of Latin American art and culture related to the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead. The annual free event offers a variety of features, performances and more in celebration of the memories of the deceased.
Day of the Dead altars, also known as ofrendas (offerings), are constructed and adorned to remember, honor and please the dead, are a central symbol of Día de los Muertos.
In the spirit of traditional Día de los Muertos festivities, a community altar will be the centerpiece for the festival, where attendees can leave mementos in honor of their loved ones who have passed. Photographs will be collected and added on the altar each year or can be picked up by 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 23.
Festival activities:
- Remarkable artist demos
- Delicious food
- Fun family activities
- Altar Contest with submissions from the community
- Over a DOZEN cultural performances and live music & entertainment
- Incredible Mercado Market Place with arts & crafts, jewelry, furniture, and MORE+
- Participation in the memories of the deceased with the community altar
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Fall is in the air! Embrace the cozy vibes of pumpkin spice and colorful leaves rustling around. But remember, safety first! No matter the season, if you ever detect a rotten egg odor, see any unusual changes to vegetation, or hear an unusual blowing or hissing sound from a natural gas pipeline, leave immediately, and call 911 and our gas emergency hotline 480-644-4277.
Knowing how to recognize and respond to a gas leak is crucial - you can make a difference in keeping your loved ones safe.
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I am happy to welcome The OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center to Mesa! The center’s passion is to bring help and hope to their clients by providing mental health therapy and making a difference in the lives of individuals and families. Thank you for choosing Mesa and serving our community. |
I was happy to have kicked off the 9/11 Day of Service project event! Projects included landscaping and repair at The Millet House, cleaning and polish of statues in Downtown Mesa, and cleaning at Helen's Hope Chest and A New Leaf Housing & Shelter.
#TogetherMesa #9/11DayofService
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Another successful Cafe con La Policia with the City of Mesa Police Department. It is always a pleasure meeting and hearing from Mesa residents in our community. Thank you to everyone who came out to visit with us and a special thank you to El Super for hosting the event! |
It was great seeing all the activity in downtown Mesa for the first Sunset Market! This ongoing event will be held on the third Thursday of the month, including weekly holiday markets between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This first market has over 30 local vendors and live music with big plans to grow for the next one!
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October 14 - Celebrate Mesa Fall Festival
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Celebrate Mesa, a FREE and family-friendly party in the park, returns to mark the arrival of the fall season with a wide variety of games, carnival rides, entertainment and more.
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October 19 - Domestic Violence Awareness Night
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Mesa is bringing the community together to discuss the devastating effect that domestic violence has in our lives and in our community. This event honors survivors and those lost to Domestic Violence. |
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October 21 - Historic Cemetery Tour
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Join us for our annual self-guided walking tour of the Historic Mesa Cemetery with guest narrators. |
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October 25-29 - Mesa International Film Festival in Downtown Mesa
All Day Event
This is a unique event that is a true celebration of filmmaking in downtown Mesa. The Film Festival hosts filmmakers and attendees from around the world for 4 days of film, art and fun.
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October 28 - Downtown Mesa Haunting on Main St.
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Inviting all boos and ghouls to float down to Main Street for some Halloween trick-or-treating! Downtown Mesa merchants are handing out individually wrapped treats to costumed children on October 28th from 11am-2pm - or until all candy is claimed! This is a FREE event for the whole family to enjoy!
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October 31 - Preschool Story Time Presents: Halloween Boo
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Be sure to wear a costume and bring your treat bag to this special preschool Halloween event. Show off your spooky spirit and gather ghoulish goodies. We'll be joined by Kid Need to Read and other special guests. Ages 3-5.
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Downtown Mesa Farmers Market @ Mesa Arts Center
Every Saturday - 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Located at the Mesa Arts Center Campus in downtown Mesa, you'll find fresh produce, delicious food and treats, beautiful handcrafted goods, live music and more! Stop by and support local small businesses. |
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Downtown Mesa Sunset Market
Every Third Thursday - 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
A variety of 30+ local vendors specializing in fresh grocery products, tasty hot food, artisan goods, and so much more! Including live music and demonstrations every market!
Upcoming Markets:
October 19, 2023
Special Holiday Markets:
November 30, 2023
December 7, 2023
December 14, 2023
December 21, 2023
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